The New York Yankees signed Long Island native Nick Tropeano to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to big league camp, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
It is a homecoming of sorts, as Tropeano is a 2008 graduate of West Islip and was drafted out of Stony Brook following an incredible 2011 campaign. His Stony Brook tenure was among the best in program history, as he was a two-time America East Pitcher of the Year. He was named All-American in 2011 when he compiled a record of 12-1 with a program-record 1.84 ERA.
Which brings the question to mind; imagine if Tropeano was on the 2012 team?
In any event, he is looking to get his career back on track following his 2016 Tommy John surgery which has been followed by two abbreviated seasons. In 2019, he compiled a 9.88 ERA over 13.2 IP with the Angels. He originally debuted with the Houston Astros in 2014 as a 24-year-old while they were enduring the last of their lean years. He started at Citi Field in the final day of the season but was traded in November for catcher Hank Conger.
Tropeano was a member of the Riverhead Tomcats during their inaugural season in 2009. From there, he went to the Cape Cod League during the summer of 2010 and played for the Cotuit Cutters.
During his time at West Islip, he helped build up the program’s reputation into what it is today. They won the Suffolk Class AA Championship in 2008 in which he compiled a record of 8-1 with a 1.50 ERA. He struck out 83 batters and walked five over 64 innings. His only loss of the season came against Centereach HS in his last regular season start of the season matched up against Joe Westenberger.
With the Yankees pitching staff anchored by Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ and Jordan Montgomery, he isn’t likely to start the season in the big leagues but every season typically requires 10 starting pitchers per team so it is very likely he could be called up at some point in the season.
